The Canadian government  has denied linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. The response of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government came after MEA disproved the reports circulating in Canadian media regarding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

What Did Canadian Govt Say?

Statement from the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to PM Trudeau, Nathalie G. Drouin read, “The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada.”

It further added, “Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate.”

The statement also said, “On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India.”

MEA Called It ‘Smear Campaigns’

The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that such reports should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. MEA in its official release said, “We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.”

The Ministry highlighted that such campaigns impact the relationship between both the countries.

“Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” it added.

The response by MEA came after a report in Canada-based Globe and Mail attempted to draw a connection between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar and the Indian government.